Learn what you can do to stay safe in the car, especially during hunting season
Regular season in Michigan starts November 15, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. This is the time of year when drivers are even more at risk of deer suddenly appearing before our oncoming cars.
Unfortunately, that means a lot of collisions. And for our attorneys, it means helping people who have been seriously hurt in deer-car accidents, often with attendant care claims if the injuries are very severe, and with No Fault auto insurance claims with their own insurance companies for wage loss, medical bills and other benefits.
Some bushy-tailed facts about deer-automobile crashes in Michigan
In Michigan, the Great Lakes State, we have a ton of deer. There’s an average of 125 deer/vehicle crashes each day, according to michigandeercrash.com. And each year, there are more than 60,000 reported motor vehicle-deer crashes in Michigan. About 80% of these crashes occur on two-lane roads between dusk and dawn, according to the Michigan State Police.
Here’s the first and most important thing to remember if a deer crosses your path:
Slow down if you can, and if you can’t avoid it, hit the deer.
It may sound violent and harsh, but better the deer’s life than yours. If you swerve or slam on your brakes, the chances of a potentially deadly accident from going into a ditch, slamming into a tree, driving into oncoming traffic or getting rear-ended are much greater than hitting the deer.
Here’s an informative blog post I wrote with 13 tips on preventing deer-car accidents.
Related info:
Will my insurance company cover damage from a deer car accident?
